Can opener



A. E. INCH CAN OPENER Nov. 4, 19 52- Filed March 9, 1950 ZSnoentor A THUR E. .ZNE'H.

Bu 5 M M Gttorneg Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 2 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in can openers and is particularly directed to an improved can opening mechanism for puncturing openings in the lid of the can.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved can opener adapted to rapid and single hand operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved perforating can opener which is safe and rapid in operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved can opener whereby the operator may simultaneously puncture the drain and air vent openings in the lid of a can.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved can opener which fastens to a wall or the underside of a table or counter top and which performs its operation by the single handed manipulation of the can into or out of the can opener.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from the detailed description of the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the can opener incorporating the features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the can opener shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the lin 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket for the can opener.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the swinging can supporting member.

As an exemplary embodiment of this invention there is shown an arrangement comprising a mounting bracket H3 having an upright portion I I provided with screw holes I2 for mounting upon a wall or vertical support. Fixed to the member II is a horizontal plate portion I3 secured to the member II by suitable gusset plates I4 and I5 to make a rigid structure. The portion I3 is also provided with suitable mounting screw holes I 6 so that it may be secured to the underside of a table or other horizontally disposed surface. Along the front edge of the portion I3 is a downwardly extending hinge portion H which supports a hinge pin I8 which extends outwardly on each side to form trunnions I9 and 20 upon which are journaled the bearing portions 2I and 22 of the U-shaped rocking member 23.

This rocking or swinging member 23 is provided with a U-shaped groove 24 having upper and lower sides 25 and 26 which nicely fit on each side of the rim of the can to be opened. Preferably the outer ends of the U-shaped groove 24 are made divergent at 21 and 25 to facilitate placement of the can in the U-shaped groove 24. The U-shaped member 23 is confined or limited in its swinging motion from the position 23a to the opening or perforating position 2%. In the loading and unloadin position for the cans to be opened at 23a the surface 29 of the member 23 engages the turned up abutment edge 3i! formed on the portion I I of the bracket member I 0. Normally the U-shaped member 23 remains in the position 23a by gravity during the loading and unloading of the can from the can opener.

The portion [3 of the mounting bracket It is provided with a pair of downwardly extending sharp perforating points 3| and 32 which enter into and are directly above the U-shaped opening formed by the groove 24. Preferably, the points 3| and 32 are located closely adjacent to the outer rim of the lid of the can.

In the operation of the can opener the operator merely grasps the can in one hand around its cylindrical body portion 3| and moves the top bead into the divergent guideways 2'! and 28 and forces it further inward until the can arrives in the U- shaped groove 2 3 as best shown in Figure 3. The can is then forced in backward tilting position 3Ia causing the perforating prongs 3| and 32 to simultaneously puncture both the drain opening and the air inlet opening in the lid of the can. The can is then tilted backwardly to the position 3) and slid out of the U-shaped groove 24 ready for use. Thus by single manipulation with one hand of the can 3| both the necessary drain and air inlet perforations are made in the lid 32 of the can so as to facilitate ready emptying of the contents thereof.

Having thus fully described this invention what is claimed is:

1. A can opening device comprising an L- shaped bracket having vertical and horizontal mountin surfaces, can lid perforating prongs fixed on the horizontal portion of said L-shaped supporting bracket, a hinge portion on said front portion of said bracket adapted to pivotally mount a U-shaped can engaging member, a bead engaging groove formed in said U-shaped member, and divergent entrance slots connected to the outer ends of said U-shaped groove and carried in said U-shaped member.

2. A can opening device comprising an L- shaped bracket having vertical and horizontal mounting surfaces, can lid perforating prongs fixed on the horizontal portion of said L-shaped supporting bracket, a hinge portion on said front 3 portion of said bracket adapted to pivotally mount REFERENCES CITED a U'Shaped can engagmg member, bead engag' The following references are of record in the ing groove formed in said U-shaped member, and file of this patent: divergent entrance slots connected to the outer ends of said U-shaped groove and carried in said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS U-shaped member and stop means on said sup- Number Name Date porting bracket member for limiting the pivotal 1,619,708 Dietrick Mar. 1, 1927 motion of said U-shaped member. 2,532,553 Johnson Dec. 5, 1950 ARTHUR E. INCH. 

